"judge Him faithful that hath promised." And this leads us to notice,

III. WHAT IT WAS THAT JOSHUA CLAIMED FROM ISRAEL. He claims from them an acknowledgment that what he said was true, "Ye know," said he, "in all your hearts, and in all your souls," how the Lord your God has dealt with you. He appealed to them to say whether God had not been true to his own word with them.

Now, Christian, you are to be ready to answer a like demand. By the confession of your lips, and by the stedfastness of your lives, your testimony must be borne to the truth of your God. You are to be prepared to tell any fellow-traveller, whose heart may be fainting, how he need not fear, for that the promise of God is sure, that you have proved it, and found it true. "Come hither, all ye that fear God, and I will tell you what He hath done for my soul." Yes, and the world too, you must let it see, in a course of holy confiding submission, known and read of all men, what God has been to you. And that you may thus confess your God, you must live by faith, must take God's promises and try them, and must put them to the proof. Then, how blessed to be able to reply, 'yea, thank God, I do know, in all my heart, and in all my soul, that not one word of his hath failed me. I have looked to Him, as He bade me do, for sustenance, direction, and defence, all my way hitherto, and never have I been disappointed.

Often, alas, as I have been wanting to Him, never has He been wanting to me. He has kept his covenant; and that covenant is all my salvation, and all my desire.'

I charge you, Christian brethren, for the honor of your God, be ready to speak thus: and in order thereto cherish the habit of faith, the habit of trusting your God, more and more. Treasure his promises in your minds. Store them in your hearts. And as, from time to time, you feel your need of the mercy He engages to bestow, plead these promises in prayer, and implicitly rely upon his fidelity, waiting for the fulfilment of his word.

There are blessings which you daily, hourly, and every moment need. Look for them then, ask for them, and expect them every day. Israel wanted daily food: the manna daily fell. They continually needed water in the desert: continually the streams of the smitten rock were flowing at their feet. Constantly they stood in need of guidance in their way: God took not the cloudy pillar from them by day or by night. So, believer, it is to be with you. Go, morning by morning, for sustenance, and for direction to your God. He has said that He will give it you. Intreat Him then to do it; use the means thereto which He has ordained, and never shall you want.

There are also other blessings, which seem to be required more especially at particular times. Help in danger; succour in conflict; comfort in trouble; these, as circumstances change in this

troublesome changing world, you will, at certain seasons, more than at other times, require. Then, again, go to your Father for them. What saith he? "Call upon me in the day of trouble, I will hear thee, and thou shalt glorify me.' "Thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, fear not, for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name, thou art mine. When thou passest

through the waters, I will be with thee, and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle upon thee." These, and such as these, are the promises God has given you for your times of extraordinary trial. At such seasons then call them to your remembrance. Take them, and lay them before the Lord. Beseech of Him an accomplishment of them. Leave to Him the way in which to send you comfort, or deliverance; and be assured, you shall certainly find Him to be your very present help in time of trouble."

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This habit of faith; this simple, firm, unhesitating faith; this resting on the Lord; this recurring to Him, day by day, and in every time of need; it is a duty which his faithfulness binds upon you. If He be so true to his engagements, if He be first so gracious as to make these engagements, and then so exact in the fulfilment of them,-surely, Christian, you are under an obligation, indeed, to honor Him by trusting his promises, and living your pilgrim life on earth with the words of the Psalmist as your song, "I

will go in the strength of the Lord God, I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only."

Thus, then, we have seen some little of the character, comforts, and duties of the people of God. Their character: they have come out from the world, and are pilgrims through earth to a rest in heaven. Their comforts: they have the promises of a true, and unchangeable God, a God that cannot lie, for the ground of their hope. Their duties: being so sustained by everlasting love and faithfulness, to acknowledge how good, and how true, is the God of their salvation, and to honor Him still, by implicit faith in all the word which He has spoken.

The Lord enable you, my Christian brethren, to take the comforts, and to maintain the duties, of your high calling. And then, how blessed the prospect of a time, when all the Church of God shall stand, like as Israel stood, when the words of our text were spoken to them, actually in possession of their promised land; all their trials over ; Jordan itself, even though with overflowing banks, safely passed; the whole assembly of redeemed souls securely gathered into their Canaan of celestial joy.

What a glorious period will it be! Then indeed may the appeal be made, "Ye know in all your hearts, and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed you:" and O how glad, how solemn, how thankful, shall be the response, "Salvation to our God, which sitteth on the

throne, and to the Lamb, for ever and ever." All glory to the power, and love, and faithfulness, that brought us in security to this good land. All praise to Him whose word, so gracious and so true, we rested on, and ever found it good; and now his promises are all fulfilled in our everlasting joy.' When that strain of praise and triumph shall be raised, God grant, beloved, that you and I may be there to swell the song!